What you believe is very important. Also, what a local church believes is very important. If you live within a 30 mile radius of Port Hope Free Presbyterian Church, then you have scores and scores of churches to choose from. You can pick from almost every protestant denomination or other belief system known to man. What sets Port Hope Free Presbyterian Church apart from the rest?

The great Protestant doctrine of Sola Scriptura governs what we believe. Simply stated, if a man’s beliefs are not in line with the Bible, then he believes the wrong thing. The Bible is our “only rule for faith and practice.” Many churches claim the axiom, but what does it really mean as far as the practical outworking of the church’s existence is concerned? I’m glad you asked! Here are six ways that the doctrine of Sola Scriptura practically affects Port Hope Free Presbyterian Church.

Fundamental in Doctrine: We believe in the divine authority, verbal inspiration, and complete inerrancy of the Bible along with the great fundamental doctrines of grace it contains. The Scriptures alone are the supreme authority in matters of faith and practice.

Evangelical in Outreach: In obedience to the great commission of Christ to "go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel" (Matthew 28:19-20), we pursue an active program of Gospel preaching, personal evangelism, missionary endeavors, and internet ministry with the great objective of leading people of every class, color, and creed to a personal knowledge of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

Sanctified in Behavior: We encourage our members to lead godly lives in obedience to God’s Word that will be testimonies of holiness and righteousness in a world increasingly plagued by degenerating moral values.

Presbyterian in Government: We are ruled by elders and deacons chosen from the people, by the people, to serve the people. The Free Presbyterian Church of North America stands for a born-again membership, and the ministers, elders, and deacons are men who have demonstrated the fact that they are genuinely born-again by the Spirit of God and are dedicated to the extension of the Kingdom of Christ.

Protestant in Conviction: We gladly take our stand alongside the great Christian leaders of the Protestant Reformation. We cherish the twin pillars of Protestantism, namely a positive witness for Christ and a protest against error.

Separatist in Practice: We believe and practice the doctrine of Biblical separation. In accordance with this, the Free Presbyterian Church of North America has no association with the modern Ecumenical or Charismatic movements, nor will it fellowship with any church which has departed from the fundamental doctrines of the Word of God.

Since our denomination’s beginning, the Free Presbyterian Church of North America has subscribed to a set of doctrinal sub-standards – the Westminster Confession of Faith along with the Larger and Shorter Catechisms. The Presbytery requires every ordained elder, minister, or licensed minister to publically sign his name stating that he agrees with the denomination’s sub-standards (as they have been amended by the Presbytery) to be a faithful representation and statement of his own personal faith. You can search these documents below: